I kid you not, listen at the 22:00 mark.
Vitti said, I have given schools the flexibility and
teachers the flexibility, saying this on the air so everyone hears it, all you
parents, if a teacher believes it is time to take kids outside to run around
and to expend that energy they have the flexibility to do that.
He later repeats, they (teachers) have the discretion and
flexibility to do that (take kids out).
The problem however is often what the district says and what
they really do are two different things. When Superintendent Vitti first
arrived he sent out an email saying they were going to relax the learning
schedule allowing teachers to reteach and get in depth on subjects should they
feel that is what their students need. Now
teachers feel the pressure to adhere to the learning schedule is greater than
ever.
If Vitti is being sincere about allowing kids to play then this is a great thing, making
school fun for kids is a lot more beneficial than constantly drilling kids. My concern is how sincere was he and will principals
allow play time because thus far many have not.
Vitti should repeat his remarks and make sure everybody hears them not just the audience of First Coast Connect.
It goes beyond fun. Multiple research projects have shown that kids learn better if they have time to move around outside every day during the school day. This isn't rocket science. But we continue to skip it.
ReplyDeleteAh, the man of the big promises!
ReplyDeleteOf course, they are all empty!
Just as Vitti's leadership is empty.
Promise anything as long as it appeases the critics so that they won't look more closely and see that there is no direction to his policies!
YES
ReplyDeleteMy eighth grader sits all day long, only to come home and sit all night!!